By Staff Writer:
An influential body of political scientists in the country, the Political Science Association (PSA) has expressed excitement at the appointment of Andrew Mpesi as the new Chief Elections Officer for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
On Thursday MEC confirmed Mpesi’s appointment to the position of CEO, a year after the post fell vacant following the resignation of the then CEO Sammy Alfandika who presided over the nullified 2019 presidential polls.
In a statement released on Thursday night, PSA said it is excited that a member of the grouping has assumed the highest office of managing elections in the country.
“The leadership and entire membership of the Political Science Association (PSA) of Malawi would like to convey warmest congratulations to Mr. Andrew Mpesi – a member of PSA – on his appointment to serve the country in the capacity of Chief Elections Officer of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). As PSA we have confidence in Mr. Mpesi’s knowledge and competence on electoral matters and processes and the political landscape of the country.
“We have no doubts that he will contribute positively towards enhancing electoral management and improving the quality of electoral democracy by effectively leading electoral Commission staff to support the Commission to deliver free, fair, transparent, inclusive, cost-effective and credible elections,” reads the statement signed by PSA secretary General Makhumbo Munthali.
The statement adds: “In the same breath, we take this opportunity to remind the new MEC CEO of the gravity of the responsibility of his office to the country; the centrality of the electoral process to the making of democratically legitimate political leadership of the country at council, parliamentary and presidential levels; and the need for objectivity and impartiality within the law when he will be executing the duties of his office.”
Before his appointment as MEC CEO, Mpesi was working for USAID Malawi as governance specialist responsible for elections and parliamentary portfolio. He holds a Master of Arts (Political Science) as a well as a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Systems Management, among several other accolades to his name.
